[i945gme] Setting up dual-head of exactly 2048 pixels wide ends up with a black screen. Setting it up with more than 2048 pixels crashes X

[Ricardo Bánffy]

Binary package hint: xorg

External monitor positioned to the left of LCD. When width is less than 2048 pixels, everything works as expected. Crash with more than 2048 pixels could be from a Compiz problem (this GPU cannot handle more than 2048 pixels). With less than 2048 pixels (I am using the external monitor at 800x600) it works flawlessly. Placing external monitor on top of (or, presumably under) the LCD works (not reaching the 2048 pixel limit). Unfortunately external monitor is a CRT and this arrangement won't fit on my desk.

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: i386
Date: Fri Nov 20 19:18:03 2009
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
MachineType: Acer AOA150
Package: xorg 1:7.4+3ubuntu7
ProcCmdLine: root=UUID=3cf8a68c-92c7-4723-ad8d-f57b9b643766 ro quiet splash
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.31-14.48-generic
RelatedPackageVersions:
 xserver-xorg 1:7.4+3ubuntu7
 libgl1-mesa-glx 7.6.0-1ubuntu4
 libdrm2 2.4.14-1ubuntu1
 xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.9.0-1ubuntu2
 xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:6.12.99+git20090929.7968e1fb-0ubuntu1
SourcePackage: xorg
Uname: Linux 2.6.31-14-generic i686
XsessionErrors:
 (polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1:2343): GLib-CRITICAL **: g_once_init_leave: assertion `initialization_value != 0' failed
 (nautilus:2336): Eel-CRITICAL **: eel_preferences_get_boolean: assertion `preferences_is_initialized ()' failed
 (gnome-panel:2335): Gdk-WARNING **: /build/buildd/gtk+2.0-2.18.3/gdk/x11/gdkdrawable-x11.c:952 drawable is not a pixmap or window
dmi.bios.date: 05/09/2008
dmi.bios.vendor: Acer
dmi.bios.version: v0.3114
dmi.board.asset.tag: Base Board Asset Tag
dmi.board.vendor: Acer
dmi.board.version: Base Board Version
dmi.chassis.type: 1
dmi.chassis.vendor: Chassis Manufacturer
dmi.chassis.version: Chassis Version
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAcer:bvrv0.3114:bd05/09/2008:svnAcer:pnAOA150:pvr1:rvnAcer:rn:rvrBaseBoardVersion:cvnChassisManufacturer:ct1:cvrChassisVersion:
dmi.product.name: AOA150
dmi.product.version: 1
dmi.sys.vendor: Acer
fglrx: Not loaded
system:
 distro: Ubuntu
 architecture: i686kernel: 2.6.31-14-generic

[lspci]
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GME Express Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:27ae] (rev 03)
     Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] Device [1025:015b]

[Ricardo Bánffy (rbanffy)]

Hi folks. Is there some info I could gather to help?

[Ricardo Bánffy (rbanffy)]

I am attaching a couple screenshots that can give an idea of what is happening.

This first is the Gnome display prefs app showing what I attempted to make in the next attachment

[Ricardo Bánffy (rbanffy)]

This is the result. Note X didn't crash, but the leftmost column of pixels show what appears to be the rightmost edge of the original LCD (1024x600) desktop.

Also note (missing from previous attachment) the external monitor (an IBM A70) is not being properly identified (see #486072)

[Ricardo Bánffy (rbanffy)]

This is the current state of the dual-headed desktop, with external monitor running at 800x600

[Ricardo Bánffy (rbanffy)]

Also note I can use the secondary screen on 1152x864 (but not at the maximum rated 1280x1024 - again, bug #486072) when I position it on top of the LCD

[Ricardo Bánffy (rbanffy)]

One more thing: the problem does not exist when I turn Compiz off. Without Compiz, I can run the second screen at up to 1152x864 (see #486072) to the right of the LCD. The attached screenshot shows the external screen running at 1024x768, with the framebuffer width that doesn't work with Compiz.

[Thomas Keene (eneekmot)]

I'm having the same problem on an Acer Aspire A250. When Appearance>Visual Effects is set to None, everything works just fine. But when it's set to Normal or Extra and I try to extend the desktop, the system will freeze with a black screen and a nonresponsive cursor (even Num Lock is unresponsive.) If I already have an extended desktop and try to change Visual Effects, I'll only get an error message.

[gregbuntu (wyatt-greg)]

I am also experiencing this issue in Ubuntu 9.10 on a Dell D620. All seems to work well when using only the laptop LCD; but I always use dual monitors (extended desktop) at work. Attempting this in Ubuntu 9.10 causes complete lock-up, so I am forced to return to WinXP until this issue is resolved (after working diligently to get Ubuntu to work on a corporate network).

The laptop LCD panel resolution is 1280x1024 and the external Dell LCD monitor resolution is 1280x1024. Although I use Ubuntu at home, I have invested entirely too much time trying to get this to work in my office. Lack of dual-monitor support is a show-stopper for me.

Let me know if I can provide any additional information to assist in resolving this issue. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Jarige (jarikvh)]

I'm effected by this bug either. Would like to see this fixed as I have had this for a few months now.
I did see some improvements after reinstalling Ubuntu 9.10, but it all comes down on the same crash as described here. I'm forced to use lower resolution on one of the screens, which bugs me a lot. I can confirm that this bug does not affect me when Compiz is turned off, or when the total width is less then 2048. Never tried a high height since I do not have such high monitors :)

[Jarige (jarikvh)]

Will this be fixed soon? I'm still waiting, and it quite annoys me now...

[Jarige (jarikvh)]

I currently have 10.04 Beta1 installed, which switches to metacity as soon as you click display options, and sets up the monitors correctly. However, changing back to Compiz is still not user friendly. All the effects are off, which might upset the newbies. A message that explains the problem should be usefull. With a link to this bug report.

It is improved now, but it is still not fixed. It should be possible with Compiz out-of-the-box.

[Thomas Keene (eneekmot)]

Using 10.04 Beta 2. I can set up my dual-monitors with a total desktop size of 2624 x 1500, but the advanced graphics are all off. When I use System>Preferences>Appearance>Visual Effects to use Extra graphics, a loading bar comes up, the screen flickers, apparently nothing happens, and then the Appearance application freezes. When I kill the application and try again, it says "Desktop effects could not be enabled."

[Thomas Keene (eneekmot)]

Oh, and the Appearance application freezes again when I press OK on that popup.

[bugbot (bugbot)]

This bug report was filed against an old version of Ubuntu.
Can you confirm whether this is still an issue in natty?

Please also ensure this bug has tags for each Ubuntu release
that the bug is confirmed as affecting.

[Manuel Silva (manuel-n-silva)]

Hello.

2011/4/27 bugbot <email address hidden>:
> This bug report was filed against an old version of Ubuntu.
> Can you confirm whether this is still an issue in natty?

I'm using 10.04 LTS and, as far I could see, the problem was solved
somewhere in time. Now when I choose a resolution greater than 2048,
compiz is turned off automatically and the system works fully.
I've downloaded one testing version of 11.04 last week so I'll test
again from live CD.

> Please also ensure this bug has tags for each Ubuntu release
> that the bug is confirmed as affecting.

As far I could understand, the bug with compiz will "always" exist
with my graphics card (i915) once it seems to have physical
limitations.

Regards,

Manuel

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Thanks; this sounds like a familiar bug in the -intel driver that I remember we got fixed about a year ago. I gather that fix got backported, so great!